TYPES OF STAR STELLAR ASTROPHYSICS A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z                    HOME ABOUT CATEGORIES SITE MAP COPYRIGHT ADVERTISE CONTACT entire Web this site Population I Population I stars in the open cluster M44 A term used to describe stars and other objects, such as star clusters, that tend to be found in, or near to, the plane of a spiral galaxy and follow roughly circular orbits around the center. They are younger than Population II objects, have a relatively high heavy element content, and have probably been formed continuously throughout the lifetime of the disk. Extreme Population I objects are found in spiral arms and consist of young objects, such as T Tauri stars, O stars, B stars, and stars newly arrived on the zero-age main sequence. It is the brilliant light – in particular, the intense ultraviolet radiation – from extreme Pop I stars that causes the spiral arms to glow to brightly. Older Population I objects include stars like the Sun. All Population I stars are relatively rich in elements heavier than hydrogen and helium since they formed from clouds of gas and dust which contained the products of nucleosynthesis from previous generations of stars. The presence of heavy elements in protoplanetary disks is believed to be a key factor in the formation of planets, so that only Population I objects are expected to harbor planetary systems, and possibly life, similar to our own. See also population. Related categories    • TYPES OF STARS    • STELLAR ASTROPHYSICS Also on this site: Encyclopedia of Alternative Energy & Sustainable Living Encyclopedia of History Transport Concepts & Designs (partner site) BACK TO TOP